Federal Judge Blocks State Department Layoffs Amid Broader Government Halt

A federal judge in California, Susan Illston, has blocked the State Department's plans to proceed with layoffs and reorganization efforts, ruling that the Trump administration must seek Congressional approval before implementing such cuts. Illston's injunction halts the firing of nearly 1,900 State Department employees and requires the department to consult the court before taking further action, amid ongoing legal challenges from labor unions and other groups. The Trump administration has argued that some reorganization plans were initiated independently and thus exempt from the injunction, but the judge remained unconvinced. Additionally, District Judge Randolph Moss declined to block President Trump's removal of three Corporation for Public Broadcasting board members, stating the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate irreparable harm. Meanwhile, in Montrose, Colorado, a municipal judge who ruled in favor of a church allowing homeless encampments was terminated by the city council, highlighting tensions in local governance over homelessness policies. These developments underscore conflicts between executive actions, judicial oversight, and local government decisions amid broader social and political controversies.